Marathon

Organiser of the Generali Cologne Marathon will be the Köln Marathon Veranstaltungs- und Werbe GmbH.

Competition rules

The Generali Cologne Marathon will be organised according to Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verband (DLV) e. V.’s international competitions rules and International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) regulations under the supervision of the DLV. These guidelines are obligational for runners with and without German Athletics Federation (DLV)’s pass.

The compliance with these rules will be checked and recorded by the referees.

The age classes will be as follows: 18-19 years, 20-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80 years and older. Most relevant for this categorisation is your date of birth.

There will be a separate scoring for each gender, relevant will be the net time.

Special scorings

• age categories M/F  (see above)
• city championship (Stadtmeisterschaft) M/F: official residence in Cologne (ZIP code/post code 50400 – 51300) – ID proof needed for award ceremony!
• association’s regional Southeast marathon championships (LVN-Regio Südost Marathon Meisterschaft): single and team scoring
• student cup (Studi-Werk Cup) M/F: for matriculated students at Cologne-based universities

Participation

For the participation in the half marathon you have at least be 18 years of age on race day (birthday in 2008 and older). Relevant is the year of birth, not the birthday.

The participant limit will be 15,000: 14,600 starting slots are in free sale, further 400 are reserved for our partners, sponsors and travel agencies.

A registration is only possible via this official website.

Health

We recommend an adequate sports medical examination to all participants prior to the participation. As an indication please check the Sports Health Check (SGC) by the German Sports University Cologne on the registration page.

Data process agreement

We store and process the person-related data from your registration for the conduct and realisation of the event, particularly the data necessary for payment (via the raceresult AG) and communications.

Without the following consent a participation in our event is NOT possible: You explicitly agree to the publication of your last name, first name, sex, year of birth, age category, club, bib number and result (position and times) in all race-related media such as online media (e. g. web site, app, live stream, social media), print media and TV.

Registrations will only be possible via this website. Deadline will be September 20, 2026, provided that the participant limit has not been reached before.

After the successful registration you will receive an email confirmation and the entry fee will be charged.

We recommend to also book a Generali entry fee insurance to get your entry fee reimbursed in case of damage.

Those who learn a lot need to keep a level head! And to keep this, as is well-known, you have to do sports and go running. Therefore, we would like to award running students in Cologne and will again introduce the Cologne student cup (‘Kölner Studi-Werk Cup’ in German 🇩🇪) in cooperation with the Kölner Studierendenwerk for the marathon and half marathon like year before.

When you are currently and particularly on race day (proof required!) matriculated at a Cologne-based university you may register online prior to August 31, 2026 for cheaper rates (after the first entry fee contingency 10% off the entry fee) if the participant limit has not already been reached beforehand.

Note: This scoring is not available for elite runners.

And we will have fancy prices for the fastest Cologne would-be graduates from us and our partners.

Details will follow soon.

Note: Should you already be registered for the race we still may enroll you for the special Cologne student scoring. A reimbursement will however not be possible.

Race packets

In order to be able to participate you will have to pick up your race packets including the bib number in person at the Running.EXPO. This expo will take place in MOTORWORLD Cologne and be opened on Friday, October 2, from 12:00 a. m. to 8:00 p. m. and on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 9:00 a. m. to 6:00 p. m.

Chronometry

The time of your relay team will be measured with a transponder attached to the bib number by race result.

A participation and chronometry is exclusively possible with this special transponder.

Please fasten your team bib number with the number belt and wear it on the hips. And pin the back numbers on the backs.

Please do NOT use magnetic pins or the like for fixing the bib number. They can have a negative impact on chronometry and the detection of your times.

Make sure that you overrun all chronometry mats normally every 5 k along the course. Lacking interval times may cause in disqualification.

Ranking

The first 10 women and men will be ranked by gross time and will be marked by * in the result list. All other runners will be added by net time.

Please note that, due to a strict timeframe and municipal provisions, you will have to complete the competition within a time of 6:00 hours net. The course has to be opened for public transportation then. Should you exceed this time limit you will be addressed accordingly by the marshals and the broom wagon driver. You have to leave the course then and can be brought to the finish area by the broom wagon or public transportation

Start

The start will be located on Opladener Straße next to Ottoplatz/Bahnhof Deutz.

Starting blocks

The starting blocks will be kicked off approximately every 5 minutes. The first runner of your team will have to pin the team bib number visible with the belt and the back number on the reverse of the shirt. No start without any bib number!

Starting times (may be subject to change)

10:30 a. m. marathon including relay teams and school marathon

The order of the starting blocks will be RED – BLUE – YELLOW – GREEN.

IMPORTANT!

If you will feel ill on race day should stay at home. You will not only risk an infection of other participants, but also your own health. No wrong ambition please!

Finish area

The finish area will be located on Komödienstraße next to the city’s landmark, Cologne Cathedral. After the finish crossing you will pass the refreshment village and check out from the closed area to pick up your kit bags.

This will be the time when you could meet with your fans again.

Awards

Directly after crossing the finish line within the given time limit you will obtain your finisher medal. The award ceremony of the overall winners will take place after the finish. Winners of the age categories and special scorings will be awarded after the race via mail.

You can have a look onto a first, unofficial preliminary certificate with a click on your name in the result list. Your official certificate with the final time and positioning will be available approximately one week after the race (after the period for objection) at the same place.

Note: Within this period positionings may change.

Are you coming from Germany or the BeNeLux countries and will be unable to pick up your race kit at the Running.EXPO? Are you arriving on the day of the race? No problem. We will send you the complete race documents to your home in good time before the race! One package – everything included! The package contains your bib number including a transponder for timekeeping, your race bag, and – if booked – your finisher shirt. The package will be shipped in mid-September. After shipping, you will receive a tracking code to track your shipment.

This service costs €25.00 for shipping within Germany or €30.00 for shipping within Benelux.

IMPORTANT: It is best to have your package delivered to an address (such as an office or similar) where it can be guaranteed that the package will be accepted. If the package cannot be delivered and is returned to us, there will be no second delivery attempt due to the short time frame. The package will then be available for collection at the Running.EXPO when you pick up your race documents.

If you do not participate in the event or make use of the entry fee insurance, the package will not be sent. In both cases, the shipping costs will not be refunded.